Improvement in billiard-table ball-holders



UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE HUGE w. coLLENnEE, oE nEw roux, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN Blumen-TABLE BALL-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,500, dated October 7, 1873; application filed July 2, 1873. p

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, HUGE W. GOLLENDEE, of New York city in the State of New York, have invented an ljinproved Billiard-Table Ball- Holder; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof7 reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the 4letters of reference marked thereon.

In billiard-saloons it is customary to place on the tables the four balls (two red and two white) which are required for playing the Anierican foureball carrom game, though the players frequently select the threeball or French carrom game 5 or, during the time of playing, alternate between the two games. It is, therefore quite a desideratum to have some provision or the fourth ball when taken from the table to play French. Any receptacle provided for the retention of the fourth ball, when off the table, should be so located that, while perfectly accessible when wanted, there shall be no danger of this ball getting in the way of the player, or getting knocked out of its receptacle, while at the same time it must be so held by the receptacle that it can be most readily extricated therefrom by the player with one hand.

My invention has for its objects to provide the table with a receptacle for the off ball, so

made and so located that, while it will perfectly retain the said ball beyond all liability of accidental dislodgment, and entirely out of the players way, it will be convenient of access, will not be obnoxious to the sight, or in any manner impair in beauty of design or appearance the table to which it is attached, and will permit the ready removal, with one hand, of the ball; and to these ends my invention consists in the use, in combination with the table,

therein. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe ball-holder de-` tached.Y

f I have shown only a portion of the table, viz., that end at which the players stand to start the game, and at which the ball-recepta: cle is located.

A represents the table, and B the ball-holder, which, as illustrated, is composed of a ring or annulus of a little less diameter than that of the billiard-ball, and is formed with a shank, which is screwed into or otherwise secured to the body of the table. I place or locate the ball-holder at the head of the table, or as near as practicable to the locality naturally occupied by the players in starting the game, because it is just before beginning the game that the fourth ball will be wanted from, or will have to be put into, the ball-holder; and I arrange the ball holder by preference at about the elevation or point on the table shown at Fig. 1, which seems to be most convenient of access, while at the same time out of the way of the players legs and body when playing, and beyond the liability of accidental contact with his arm or hand in reaching for chalk, or making any other natural movement. I have shown the ball-holder, made of metal and with an ornamental stem, at the extremity of which is formed a screw-thread which penetrates the table A, and have successfully applied my invention in this form 5 but the annular holder may, of course, be made of any suitable material, and may be formed or supplied with such a stem or sustaining-arm as shown, or with some other sustaining device.

It will be seen that a ball-holder made annular or ring-like, as shown, of the right diameter to permit the ball to be properly seated therein, while it securely retains the ball will permit its most ready removal, andwith one hand of the player, whose other hand is generally engaged in holding the cue.

Vhen the ball is in the annular holder B, as seen at Fig. 1, the player has simply to hold his hand under the ball, and, slightly lifting the latter with one finger, tumble it into his hand.

It will be understood that the inconvenience which would often be met with in extricating a smooth spherical body like .a billiard-ball,

with one hand, from any ordinarily-shaped receptacle, into which it Would it, is entirely overcome by the annular form of ball-holder shown; and that, While the holder B is so shaped as to securely hold the ball against accidental displacement, it is of the best possible form to permit the convenient extrication of the ball With one hand, and Without danger of letting the ball fall, Which not only greatly endangers the ball, but is a great annoyance, as the ball will roll about the room before being arrested or picked up.

Having so fully explained my invention that those skilled can practice it in the various forms in Which it may be applied, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination, With a billiard-table, of an annular ball-holder, arranged and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of June, 1873.

HUGH W. GOLLENDER. [L. s.]

VWitnesses J. N. MCINTIRE, W. H. MYER. 

